Windshield wiper



Aug 19, w52 R. B. MORTON 2,67,066

WINDSHIELD WIPER Filed NOV. 25, 1945 Patented ug. 19, 1952 Ul\ll'l`l`.D .STATES PATE-NT OFFICE WINDSHIELD WIPER y Robert -B. Morton, Chicago, v`Ill., assigner to -StewartifWarner 1- (Vlorporation,V Chicago, Ill., .a corporation of Virginia Application November 23,51945, Serial No. `630,169

9- Claims. (C115-254) This invention .relatesltolwindshield Wipers of lthe power driven'type and one bject'of 'the'in- A-`vention is the provision 4of a new and'improved `yi'fin'clshield lwiper which Vis equally ladapted for .nsewith -flatV or curved windshields.

.-Another obj ect of thefinvention iis A.to provide falnew Land improved windshield wiperhaving a wip-ing element 'eiiibly supported so 'that 'its vworking edge which engages the windshield Fwill readily conform to the contour therefandis ;adaptedto change its shapein accordance with differences ,of contour ofthe' windshield; at differeIt `positions 'atfwhichfthe wiper j blade engages it.

` Itis ,also an object kof theinventio-n to providea new and Aimproved windshield wiper havf-ing Vefilex'ible wiper: blade which is 4readily 'conyforznable"tofthejcontour 'of the Windshield and `,provided Ywith means j to jprevent :rolling v"of the 1 ,wiperj blade -during its operation."V`

More specifically, .it is an objectof the inven- 'tion to provide. a windshield wiper'ihaving la f liexible wiperiblade adapted'to Yconform tothe `vcontourgof 'a `windshield andprovided withA means .fiorA preventingv rolling ,of ith'eblade during opera- '.tion, v'such as'means 'ineludingmechanism for spinning"theblade about an axis transverse to itswvorking `edge and substantially,at the middle 'of 'its1ength. Y

Other objeetsand advantages 'of the invention 'will Aappear *front-the' following description .taken in vconnection 'with the 'accompanying "drawings, in which:

Eig. ,'.1 lis a 'front elevation one .small scale showing a vehicle Windshield with a pair `of .windshield wipers embodying "this invention 4associated `,therewith ,"Fig.'f2.is aside elevation of Va windshieldwiper 1 mechanism, "with parts Ashown in section to disclose certainrfeatures of theinvention;

`"Eig.'3 is a 'detail'section"takenasindicatedl at "blade .taken 'as indicated'iat' Vlinei-ll-fi on Fig'. 2.

VYTo` "adapt Ala windshield 'wiperfforf-use' -onV a 'zwindshieldof irregular contour or oflcurvedi cross "sectionythe rubber'wiper :blade'may be attached '.to asupporting arm by'its ends"oniy, leavingthe .intermediate portionl of: the bladeexible and-free to `conform 'to the contour Lof the windshield.. Usually,.a .body portion 'of the blade baclroi its Working 'edge has, Vmoldedin it, af'coil l'spring or other fiiexible metallic *reinforcement which .pro-

.trudes from V,the ,ends of the other `mem'loerfor .actual ,attachment to thesupport But "when such a wiperor squeegee is slid across the glass 'of a Windshield in a 'convention-almanner, either Vwith a V`reciprocating motion or -with 'an oscillating movement, there is -a tendency for-theblade 5 *toroll instead ofmerely -slidingbecause thevfricytionalengagementy of the vblade with the-windyshieldsurfaceis-iat one -side of the -line or axis connecting the'points of 'attmhment-oi the Inexiblebladeltothe supporting means. "The longer 4the blade thejgreateris the tendency for ,this

.rolling action rand even though theend portions 'of the blade are #checked against lturning in the "support, lthe#flexible#middle portion :tends 'to idrag irrresponse' to :the friction and tohtwist and 5 roll outoff'eieient Contact with the windshield surface. I

However; if 'such 1 a blade is -held :against the glass 'and rotated A'or I swung about A a transverse axis at 'the `middleof its lengthfthe tendency to roll'jis "noilonger at the middle fof lthe -bl-ade ybut *the'tendencyf'is for'these'two pointsto roll Vin opposite directions so `that the resulting torque of one half the-bladeopposes the torque 'of the other half dofA the `blade and i the? twistingefect is practically nullied. uThis vpermitsla vlonger .and

'faster moving 'bladewith little or no "rolling `40 (shaft,241journal1ed-'in a" bushing sleeve A2t which uextends through 'thef dashboard f Irl-i and supports Yja*j-gear casing `YZSMatit-.s outeriend, A driving f wom coupled --tothe shaft 24 is ljournalled iini'the `easing '28 and 1meshes with I aworm -gear Ak"32 secured tofthe" lower vend of a'yertical 4shaft [34. A *tubular Asupport 43B v-vextends upwardly *iro-mthe casing 26 enclosing the shaft i315 and 'icarryingatits upper end-ahousing '138 vwhich includesbearing -means for V`1a"short vhorizontal .50 "shaft 410 and-alsoA enclosesv a pair -of bevel --gears 42,144 which 'transmit rotationfron` the shaft 1H to theshaft'. Y'

Th'efrubber wipenblade vor squeegeefelementf! is shown as the :type having a v'coiled lwire -reinj' forcement 52 imoldedj initsbod-ygp ortiogn; and the 3 ends of this coil spring 52 are engaged respectively with lugs 54, 54 extending transversely from a supporting member 56. The middle portion of the blade 50 is unsupported except by the tension created by the attachment of its ends to the lugs 54, 54 and as shown, it is curved to conform with the curvature of the windshield shown at A. The shaft 40 terminates in a b-ifurcated yoke 46 connected by a pivot 4S to the wiper blade supporting bar 56 so that although the tubular member 36 and the housing 38 are carried in substantially rigid position spaced from the windshield, the part 56 and the wiper blade 56 carried thereby can tilt about the pivot 48 to approximate the inclination of the windshield A, while the exibility of the member 56 permits it to conform accurately to the curved contour of the windshield surface. A coil spring 58 reacts between the housing 38 and the wiper blade 50 to hold the latter in Working contact with the windshield surface; the yoke 46 provides a shoulder against which a washer 60 is lodged to receive the pressure of the spring 58 as clearly seen in Fig. 2. As best seen in. that view, a splined connection is provided between the shaft 46 and gear 44 so that the shaft may be moved axially of the gear. An enlarged abutment on the cuter end of the shaft is adapted to engage gear housing 3B for limiting axial movement of shaft 40 under the influence of spring 58.

Operation of the motor l drives the shaft 24 and worm 36 to rotate the worm gear 32, shaft 34, and bevel gear 42 which transmits rotation to the bevel gear 44 and its shaft 4U so that vthe resulting rotation of the yoke 46 turns the supporting arm 56 about the middle of its length andv the arm carries with it the flexible wiping blade D, thus spinning it against the surface of the windshield A and clearing a circular area thereof. As already explained, the tendency of the working edge portion 50a of the blade to turn or roll about the axis ofthe reinforcing spring 52 is practically eliminated by this spinning movement since a neutral point is created at 56h at about the middle of the length of the blade 50 and the outer end portions can be held against rotation by any suitable means at their connection with the lugs 54. For example, the lateral faces 50c of the body portion of the rubber blade 50| may be flat and parallel and may engage snugly between fiange portions 55, 55 connecting the lugs 54 with the main body or backbone portion of the supporting member 56 forming channels in which the end portions of the exible blade are held against rotation. In each half length of the element 50 the spinning of the element about its midpoint 50h will create some tendency for theV working edge to roll over, but since thetendency in onehalf of the blade 50 is in the opposite direction to the tendency set up in the other half, the rolling action in one end portion will resist the oppositely directed rolling action in the other end with the result that the working edge 50a will remain in efficient contact with the surface of the'windshield throughout the length of the blade.

When a windshield wiper of this type is not in service it is desirable to move it entirely out of the eld of vision so as to leave the windshield wholly unobstructed, and to permit this, the casing 28 and bushing 26 are mounted for rotative adjustment about the axis of the bushing. The bushing 26 is turnably mounted in a bearing boss 62 which projects through the dashboard I4 and is integral with the `base flange I6 of the motor l0.

Inside the dashboard I4 the bushing 26 carries a hub 64 secured to the bushing by 'a set screw 66 and supporting a tubular handle 68 shown with a spherical hand grip 'I0 at its lower end. A push rod 'l2 is slidable in the handle in opposition to a spring I4 pocketed in the hub 64 and said push rod carries a detent pin 'I6 which normally engages in a notch 18 in the cylindrical housing 80 which extends integrally from the base flange i6 and serves as a mounting bracket for the motor I0. Normally, the handle 68 and the hub 64 are thus held against rotation but upon depressing the outer end of the push rod 12 which projects from the hand grip '10, the detent pin 16 may be disengaged from the notch 18 so that by swinging the handle 12 through a suitable angle the supporting tube 36 will be swung through a similar angle from its upstanding position to the position at which it is shown in Fig. l, lowering the wiper blade and its supporting member 56 into a parking position in alignment with the lower edge of the windshield A and thus moving the working parts out of the eld of vision.

While there is shown and described herein certain structure illustrating the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby but may assume numerous other forms and includesall modifications, variations and equivalents coming within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In combination with a vehicle body having a windshield, a' windshield wiper including a flexible wiping element, a support extending longitudinally thereof, means connecting the ends of said wiping element to the respectively adjacent ends of said support, a shaft extending transversely of said support and attached thereto at substantially the middle of said support, bearing means for said shaft, a bracket secured to said vehicle body adjacent one edge of the windshield, a sleeve extending through said bracketwith one end inside the vehicle body and the other end outside the same, a casing secured to the outer end of said sleeve, a tubular arm extending from said casing to the bearing means for said shaft, a connecting shaft geared to said first-mentioned shaft and extending through said tubular arm, a motor supported on said bracket inside the vehicle body, and driving means extending through said sleeve from the motor into operative engagement with said connecting shaft for rotating the wiping element.

2. In the combination defined in claim 1, said sleeve being turnably mounted in said bracket, a handle attached to the inner end of said sleeve for turning it to swing the wiping element from operative position to a parking position adjacent one edge of the windshield, and detent means carried by the handle engageable with a portion of the bracket at the position of the handle corresponding to operative position of the wiping element.

3. In an actuating mechanism for an automotive vehicle windshield wiper having a support for a wiping element secured upon a rotatable'axis intermediate the ends of the support,A the combination comprising a bracket secured to the vehicle body adjacent one edge of the vehicle windshield, a sleeve rotatably secured upon a "nxed axis in said bracket, a hollow arm'secured to said sleeve outside said vehicle and supporting 'said wiping element adjacent the outer face of the windshield, power means in the vehicle for operatingr saidwiper, interengaging drive connections for driving said Wiper from said power means including a shaft housed in said sleeve and rotated by said power means, Va second shaft extending 55 ,throughsaid hollow armpand gearing housedin vfsai'ldsleeveand driven by Ethe'fpower d r'ivenshaft forestablishing a driving connection betweenlsaid shaft's the shaft Yin said hollowl arm being -con- `frotatableaxis -whensaid power -means lis 1 opera- `-Ltive,fand'ra handle -attache'd :to the endof said sleeve in saidvehicle `forggrotating the same upon said .fixed axis to swing the arm and wiping ele- ,mentfrom operativev position to `a parking `iposi- 45111anactuatingmechanism for an automotive vehicle windshield wiper having a support for a wiping element secured upon a rotatable axis intermediate the ends of the support, the combination comprising a :bracket secured to the vehicle body adjacent one edge of the vehicle windshield, a sleeve rotatably secured upon a iixed axis in said bracket, an arm secured to one end of said sleeve and extending generally radially therefrom to support said wiping element adja- 4cent the outer face of the windshield, drive connec-tions extending through said sleeve and arm for rotating the wiping element, a handle attached to the other end of said sleeve for rotating the same upon the fixed axis to swing the arm and wiping element from operative position to a parking position adjacent one edge of the windshield or vice versa, and detent means carried by the 'handle and engageable with a portion of the bracket releasably to secure said arm in raised position with the wiping element adjacent the outer face of the windshield.

5. A windshield cleaner comprising an elongated wiping element having a blade portion and a blade holder member extending longitudinally of said blade portion, a shaft connected to said blade holder adjacent its longitudinal midpoint and extendin-g outwardly therefrom in a direction away from said blade portion, bearing structure adapted to be disposed on one side of said windshield and to support said shaft for rotary and axial movement relative to a xed axis, a compression spring surrounding said shaft and biasing the same in a direction to urge said blade portion of the wiping element into engagement with the windshield, means forming an abutment adjacent the end of said shaft opposite that to which said wiping element is secured adapted to engage said bearing means for fixing the ultimate limit to which said shaft is movable axially under the iniiuence of said spring, and means for rotating said -shaf-t.

6. A windshield cleaner comprising an elongated wiping element having a blade portion and a blade holder member extending longitudinally f said blade portion, a shaft connected to said blade holder adjacent its longitudinal midpoint and extending outwardly therefrom in a direction away from said blade portion, bearing structure adapted to be disposed on one side of said windshield and to support said shaft for rotary and axial movement relative to a fixed axis, a compression spring surrounding said shaft and biasing the same in a direction to urge said blade portion of the wiping element into engagement with the windshield, means forming an abutment adjacent the end of said shaft opposite that to which said wiping element is secured adapted to engage said bearing means for fixing the ultimate limit to which said shaft is movable axially under the influence of said spring, a gear splined to said shaft relative to which said shaft is axially movable, and means to rotate said gear for rotating the shaft and wiper.

j ing an elongated supporting member having later- Afcvleaner Ifor y'the Windshield 'of Aanailitonintive vehicle A or the vlike :comprising r an4 elongated wiping-element havinga blade portion and a blade holder member extending longitudinally of said blade portion;afshaftconnected to said blade Yholderadjacent itslongitudinal midpoint andfextending Ioutwardly therefrom ina directionaway from saidgblade portion, bearing-structure s-upporting said shaft for rotary and Vaxial movementQa hollow sleeve journaled in the'bo'd'yj'of j" lthe vehicle *and extending fromthe insideto-Athe `A'outside' thereof, "a 'hollow'arm `fixed at Aoneend t0 said sleeve on the outside of said vehicle and supporting said bearing structure adjacent the other end at a xed distance in front of said windshield, said sleeve being rockable upon its own axis to move said bearing structure and wiping element between operative and parked positions, a compression spring biasing said blade holder and shaft in a direction to urge said blade portion of the wiping element into engagement With the wind-shield, means forming an abutment adjacent the end of said shaft opposite that to which said wiping element is secured adapted to engage said bearing structure for fixing the ulti-mate limit to which said 4shaft is movable axially under the influence of said spring, a source of power in said vehicle, and drive connections extending from said source of power through the sleeve and arm for spinning said shaft and the wiping element.

8. A wiper for effectively and uniformly cleaning a convexly curved vehicle windshiel-d, comprisally projecting lugs adjacent its opposite ends, a flexible wiping element having its ends attached to the lugs to stretch the element between the lugs, the element being spaced laterally from the supporting member, guiding elements lon the supporting member to restrain the ends of the wiping element from twisting, a shaft attached to the supporting member approximately at its longitudinal center, a bearing supporting the shaft for rotation, an arm supporting the bearing opposite the windshield, a spring biasing the supporting member toward the windshield to urge the wiping element along its entire length into conformative wiping contact with the Windshield, rotary motive means, and a driving connection between the motive means and the shaft to rotate the wiping element on the windshield.

9. A wiper for effectively and uniformly cleaning a convexly curved vehicle windshield, comprising an elongated supporting member having laterally projecting lugs adjacent its opposite ends, a iiexible wiping element having its ends attached to the lugs to stretch the element between the lugs. the element being spaced laterally from the supporting member, guiding elements on the supporting member to restrain the ends of the wiping element from twisting, a first shaft attached to the supporting member approximately at its longitudinal center, a bearing supporting the shaft for rotation, a second bearing adapted to be mounted adjacent one edge of the windshield, a sleeve journaled in the bearing, an arm mounted on the sleeve and supporting the firs-t bearing opposite the Windshield, a spring biasing the supporting member toward the windshield to urge the wiping element along its entire length into conformative wiping contact with the windshield, rotary motive means including a second shaft journaled in the sleeve, a driving connection between the two shafts to rotate the wiping element on the windshield, and means to rotate 7 -the sleeve, for moving the arm toward a4 parked Number position adjacent one edge of the windshield. y2,1309 5 ROBERT B. MORTON. 2,167,207 i 2,181,066 Y REFERENCES CITED a 2,239,754 `P'The following references are ofrrecord in the 2,254,343 le of this patent: i Y 2,279,983 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number vName Date 10 Number 1,610,361 Calvin Dec. 14, 1926 328,327

"1,711,756 IStevens May 7, 1929 Name Y Date Kingsley 1` Sept. v20,1938 Horton JulyV 25, 1939 'Rau Nov, 21, 1939 Marti Apr.A 29, 1941 Zierer j Sept. 2, 1941 Goode f Apr. 14, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS Country Date Great Britain A131228, 1930 Great Britain A ug 15,'1935 

